Wendell Barnhouse is a nationally-known and respected columnist who has spent over 20 years covering collegiate athletics. He has reported from 25 Final Fours and more than three dozen bowl games and has written about the Big 12 and its schools since the conference's beginning. Barnhouse will be updating the Big 12 Insider on happenings and behind-the-scenes information about the conference.

During Big 12 football media days earlier this week, a number of coaches were asked to recall their first job as an assistant coach. Bill Snyder, 73, had quite the memorable answer.

“My first position as an assistant coach was in Gallatin, Missouri,” Snyder replied. “This was a high school position. I was an assistant football coach and assistant basketball coach and assistant women’s basketball coach, assistant track coach, drove the school bus, taught four units of Spanish, which I knew nothing about, and I made $6,000 a year.

"And I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, in all honesty, because I’d never had a paycheck worth very much prior to that.”

In January, Snyder signed a five-year contract extension and probably makes about 30 times as much as he made at his first job.

“I made some relationships and friendships there that were forever lasting,” Snyder said. “I don’t think my salary went up hardly any at all, but, nevertheless, it was an enjoyable experience.”